Picture-in-picture video content distribution

Abstract

A method and system for multicasting video signals over a network. A standard definition picture-in-picture multicast video signal is encoded from a video signal. A common network address is assigned to the standard definition picture-in-picture multicast video signal for both standard definition picture-in-picture video content and high definition video content.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 obtaining a video signal; 
 encoding the video signal to generate a standard definition picture-in-picture multicast video signal; 
 encoding the video signal to generate a standard definition full screen multicast video signal; 
 encoding the video signal to generate a high definition full screen multicast video signal; 
 assigning an identical network address to a first network identification field of the standard definition picture-in-picture multicast video signal of a high definition channel map and to a second network identification field of the standard definition picture-in-picture multicast video signal of a standard definition channel map; 
 providing the standard definition picture-in-picture multicast video signal to a requesting device responsive to a request from the requesting device for high definition picture-in-picture video content; and 
 providing the requesting device with channel map data comprising the identical network address. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising broadcasting the standard definition picture-in-picture multicast video signal over an internet protocol television network. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the requesting device utilizes the channel map data to access the video signal. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising broadcasting the high definition full screen multicast video signal over an internet protocol television network. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising broadcasting the standard definition full screen multicast video signal over an internet protocol television network. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising broadcasting the standard definition picture-in-picture multicast video signal. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising broadcasting the standard definition full screen multicast video signal. 
     
     
       8. A method comprising:
 selectively accessing a high definition full screen video signal from a server in response to a first request for high definition full screen video content; 
 selectively accessing a standard definition full screen video signal in response to a second request for standard definition full screen video content; 
 accessing only a standard definition picture-in-picture video signal in response to a third request for high definition picture-in-picture video content, wherein the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal is accessed utilizing channel map data; 
 decoding an accessed video signal comprising one of the high definition full screen video signal, the standard definition full screen video signal or the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal to produce a decoded video signal; and 
 wherein an identical network address is assigned to a first network identification field of the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal of a high definition channel map and to a second network identification field of the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal of a standard definition channel map. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising presenting the decoded video signal on a display device. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the channel map data comprises the identical network address associated with the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the channel map data is stored in a memory of a set-top box. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the identical network address associated with the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal is different from a first network address associated with the high definition full screen video signal. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the identical network address is different from a second network address associated with the standard definition full screen video signal. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising selectively accessing the high definition full screen video signal. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein selectively accessing the high definition full screen video signal is based on a first network address associated with the high definition full screen video signal. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first network address is different from the identical network address associated with the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal. 
     
     
       17. A system comprising:
 a first device to broadcast over an internet protocol television network a standard definition full screen video signal for standard definition full screen video content at a first network address, a high definition full screen video signal for high definition full screen video content at a second network address, and only a standard definition picture-in-picture video signal responsive to a request for high definition video content at a third network address, wherein an identical network address is assigned to a first network identification field of the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal of a high definition channel map and to a second network identification field of the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal of a standard definition channel map, and wherein the first device comprises one of a switch and a router; and 
 a high definition encoder to encode video content to generate the high definition full screen video signal. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a standard definition encoder to encode the video content to generate the standard definition full screen video signal. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first device provides a channel map data structure to a set top box. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the channel map data structure enables the set top box to access the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal.